Rosie Rudenko
A stylist who lives in the West Village, Rudenko came in for a cherry-blossom tattoo on her right rib cage. “I was nervous at first, but not anymore,” says the spunky 31-year-old. “Rib tattoos are popular with women right now,” notes James. It’s also among the more painful places to get one. Rudenko, who already has a floral tattoo on her ankle, winced as the branding began, but soldiered through the 90-minute procedure.

Jonathan Baskin

John Joseph
East Village resident Joseph, the lead singer of hard-core punk band Cro-Mags, asks James to tattoo his second favorite band, Bad Brains, on his upper thigh. “Bad Brains isn’t just a band,” says Joseph, 48. “They saved my life.” How so? When he was in his early 20s, Joseph was inspired by the DC hard-core band to make music. He eventually met Bad Brains members, who encouraged him to quit drugs, become a vegetarian and work out fanatically.

Jonathan Baskin

George Boudaris
George Boudaris’ forearm tattoo of a soldier’s helmet atop a rifle is meant to honor fellow Army volunteers who died in Afghanistan — where his 69th Infantry Division will be deployed in a couple of months. “It’s a reminder of those who went before and didn’t come back,” says the 20-year-old, who grew up in New York City’s suburbs. After watching James’ show, Boudaris (right) came to Wooster Street Social Club and requested a design by tattoo artist Tommy Montoya (left).